The metric system, also known as the International System of Units (SI), is widely used around the world, except in the United States. It simplifies calculations and uses base 10 decimal units for weights, dimensions, and volumes. Temperature is measured in Celsius. The system was developed in France in 1791 and gradually spread to other […]
The Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) are related but not the same. The Internet is a network of connected international networks, while the WWW is a service available within that network. The Internet includes over 100 protocols, while the WWW is only one. The Internet began as a US defense project in 1973, and […]
Virtual worlds are computer-generated environments where users interact through avatars. They can be game worlds or virtual communities with customizable avatars and various activities. Virtual worlds offer graphics, sound effects, and streaming audio. Second Life is a popular virtual world community that earned US$64 million in 2005. Virtual worlds may incorporate real-world goods and services […]
Radioactive substances emit ionizing energy during decay, with alpha, beta, and gamma radiation being the most common. The level of radioactivity depends on the type of radiation and how easily it can be shielded. Half-life is a useful measure for determining the most radioactive substances, with elements at the end of the periodic table being […]
Boeing created microlattice, the lightest metal ever, which is 99.99% air. It weighs one-tenth of carbon fiber and may be used in space rockets and commercial aircraft. In 2015, Boeing announced the creation of the lightest metal ever, a microlattice material that the aerospace company describes as 99.99 percent air. It was developed by HRL […]
The Texas Petawatt Laser at the University of Texas is the most powerful laser in the world, producing over 1 petawatt of power for a tenth of a trillionth of a second. It is used to replicate extreme conditions and study how matter behaves. The laser can even produce antimatter. As of January 2009, the […]
Cornell University researchers created a miniature guitar using crystalline silicon, 10 microns long with six strings about 100 atoms wide each. It can be played with miniature lasers using an atomic force microscope and produces a 40 megahertz signal. The guitar was created to publicize nanotechnology. It’s said to be the world’s smallest musical instrument, […]
The NanoCar Race in Toulouse, France, will feature cars made up of only 100 atoms and will only be visible through a custom microscope. The race will take place on a tiny gold disc and aims to help scientists develop atomic-scale machines. Six countries will participate, but only four will compete. A one-off car race […]
World currencies are used for exchange and can be exchanged for goods, services and other currencies. They consist of a larger monetary unit and a fractional unit, with some countries having fractional currencies worth 1/5 of their largest currency. Currencies can be shared between countries or have the same name but different values. Foreign exchange […]
The Boeing Everett Plant in Washington, USA is the largest building in the world with 282 acres of usable floor space. Other large buildings are related to aircraft or spacecraft assembly, but not all have usable floor space. The Aalsmeer Flower Auction is the largest commercial building, while the Great Wall of China and Three […]
The Knock Nevis is the largest ship ever built, weighing 647,955 tons when fully loaded with oil. It was built in Japan between 1979 and 1981 and is larger than the Empire State Building. It cannot navigate the English Channel or dock at many major ports. It was used to deliver oil to the US […]
The World’s Longest Yard Sale takes place over 4 days in August along a 650-mile stretch of US Route 127. It was started in 1987 to reintroduce America to its back streets and small towns. Yard sales are popular in the US and are conducted for various reasons, including raising extra cash and clearing space […]
The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is the world’s largest machine, capable of accelerating particles to 99.9999991% of the speed of light. The canceled Superconducting Super Collider in Texas would have been larger. The F60 Overburden Conveyor Bridge in Germany is the largest machine with similar length, width, and height, while the Knock Nevis supertanker […]
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is the authoritative source on the world’s tallest buildings, measuring from the height of the building above the structural or architectural top. The top ten tallest buildings are in Asia or the United States, with Taipei 101 being the tallest. The list includes buildings for residential, commercial, […]
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China is the world’s largest dam, completed in 2006. It will generate 18.2 GW of power and reduce major downstream floods. However, over 1 million people had to be evacuated for its construction, and it has been controversial due to its cost and potential environmental impact. […]
Globalization connects the world’s economies through trade, capital investment, and technology. The use of mineral resources in the 19th century lifted energy limits and connected countries, leading to the expansion of the global economy in the 20th century. The positive and negative effects of globalization are debated, with supporters claiming it promotes competition and improved […]
The oldest forms of worship are ancestor worship, shamanism, and animism, dating back to at least 300,000 BC. Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Jainism are the oldest religions still widely practiced. Polytheism, god and goddess worship, and other religions like Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, and mystery cults also have ancient origins. The oldest forms of worship in […]
José Mujica, former president of Uruguay, fought against dictatorship and donated 90% of his salary to those in need. He lived modestly, rejecting presidential lodgings and driving a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. Uruguay provides free laptops to schoolchildren and generates 95% of its electricity from renewable sources. People get into politics for a variety of reasons, […]
John D. Rockefeller Sr. was the world’s first billionaire, thanks to his monopoly on the oil business. He owned 90% of the world’s oil refineries and a third of the world’s oil wells. His fortune would be worth around $400 billion today. The world’s first billionaire was oil tycoon John David Rockefeller Sr. He achieved […]
Northrop Frye coined the term “The Green World” to describe a setting that recurs throughout literature. In Shakespeare’s plays, characters enter the forest to face inner obstacles and gain personal insight. The Green World offers elements of magic and supernatural power, but must be survived to restore balance to the world. Shakespeare’s female characters often […]
